According to Bloomberg a consortium of top technology companies have banded together and offered around $525 million for ownership of some of the 1,100 imaging patents belonging to Kodak. The New York Timesnotes the consortium is led by non-manufacturing firm Intellectual Ventures and the RPX corporation, but is backed by Apple, Google, HTC, LG and other tech names like BlackBerry maker RIM, Amazon, Samsung, Adobe, and Huawei.

In August this year Kodak, which has been ailing since the digital photography revolution destroyed it, said it would sell its film, commercial scanner, and kiosk business units. But its huge trove of patents amassed over its 123-year history is also worth significant cash, most likely thanks to its key position in the development of the entire photography industry.